Wrench



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

R. P. BUTTLES, Ol MANSFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,964, dated July 3, 1860.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, R. P. BUTTLES, of Manseld, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements lin lVrenches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a plan of a ratchet wrench embracing my improvements with diierentform dies inserted. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of one of the dies arranged to hold a crotch wrench and with a crotch wrench inserted. Fig. 4, represents a modification in the form of the crotch wrench, adapted to the socket die.

The ratchet wrench as heretofore constructed, and with the dies used, is not available for loosening or turning up nuts or bolts in all the various positions in which they are placed in machinery, as for example in narrow recesses or corners. And the devices used to retain the dies in the handle are cumbersome and do not allow the dies to be disengaged with facility.

To overcome these and other objections in the ratchet wrench and render it, a more available and useful tool is the object of my improvements; and my invention for effecting this object consists, first, in arranging the die so that a short crotch-wrench may be inserted in its face and operated by the ratchet lever, whereby the wrench is rendered more available for turning up nuts and bolts in small recesses or angles, in which the die from its position in the handle, cannot enter; second, in constructing the ratchet handle with an open space at that part of the end which is above the die seat in connection with a die open at the side, whereby the head of the bolt or nut may enter the die either from the side or end, as is most convenient; third, in arranging the pawl operating the die, in connection withv a flange on the die, so as to hold the die to the handle, and by its being dra-wn backward release the die so that it can be taken from the handle. j

In the accompanying drawing, is represented a ratchet wrench embracing my improvements, which consists of a bar or handle (A) through each end of which a circular opening is made, forming a socket (a) and seat (a) to receive the wrench die (B). This socket forms a circular projecting rim (a) on the ends of the handle, the seat (a) of which is a short distance below t-he plane of the handle.

An inclined recess is made in the face of the handle at each end to receive a spring pawl (b) which projects al short distance over the edge of the socket. The side, and end, of this recess sustain and give support to the pawl when a strain is brought upon it.

The dies used in this wrench are constructed of various forms to adapt the wrench to the different positions and circumstances in which it may be used. They consist of a cylindrical piece of metal with a rectangular hole through the center and with a projecting flange around the periphery which rests on the seat (a) of the ratchet handle. Above this flange is a row of ratchet teeth (CZ) into which the ratchet pawl enters. The lower corner of the pawl rests on the projecting flange (c) of the die and holds it to the socket, and the drawing back of the pawl releases the die so that it can be removed from the handle. The combined crotch and socket die (see B, Fig.l) is constructed in a similar manner to the socket die, with the exception that one side of the die is removed to form an open end wrench.

A portion of the ring (a) at the end of the handle above the die seat, is cut away so as to leave the side of the die in front exposed as low as its seat, by which means a die open at the side is available with this handle and can be entered over the head of the bolt either from the side or top. Another form of die (E, Fig. 3) is used with this handle, and this is made of greater length than the others, so as to project on both sides above the face of the handle; a groove (f) is cut in the face of this die, which may extend entirely across the end if thought best. The object of this groove is to hold a crotchwrench (F), which consists of a rectangular plate of metal, in one or both ends of which a crotch (G) is made, of the proper size and form for bolt heads or nuts. The sides are beveled off to conform to the sides of the slot in the die; and the wrench is sufficiently long that one or both ends (if the slot extends entirely across the die) will project beyond the ends and sides of the ratchet handle.

The form represented in Fig. 4, may be given to the crotch'wrench when desired in order to adapt it to some situations in which the straight Wrench Would not be availablet and the Wrench instead of entering a slot in the die, may be provided With a rectangular shank to fit the socket of the die.

The crotch-Wrench is turned by the handle moving the die, into which it is inserted and is available in turning up nuts or bolts in narrow corners or recesses, into which the die cannot enter.

I do not confine myself to the precise construction or form of the dies used in the Wrench as described as they may be varied as circumstances require to adapt them to different situations.

Having thus described my improvement in ratchet Wrenches, What I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s- 1. Constructing the die with a transverse R. P. BUTTLES.

Witnesses:

C. I. FULLER, LUCINDA B. BEECH. 

